The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-09
DR.. HANSON'S NEW COVENANT.
A Criticism by Rev. W. E. Marley, D. D.

n OriSicism oy sev. w. +. manley, ID. ID.
Proofs of the following article were sent |
to DIR. Hanson, in London. His reply will |
be found on the first page of the present |
issue. ED.l
The books of DR.. Hanson, of the New
Testament, are called by him, "The
New Covenant" as the former ought |
to have been called in the first place (;
but it is hardly to be expected that the
name will be changed at this late day.
Having been requested to examine the
work, and to write a notice of it for
The UNIvERsALIsT, entered on the
examination with sincere desire of
finding it as excellent as some of it's
friends had represented; though my
knowledge of some of its renderings
derived from what the author himself
had said in the Quarterly, and other
publications, awakened some apprehen-
sions that my enthusiasm would fall
considerably short of what | had seen
in others.
l was not long in finding ample con-
firmation of my distrust, even where 1
had least expected it, namely, in the
Chronology of Jesus the Christ's Min
istry," which follows the introduction,
and precedes the harmony. Over this
chronological table are the following
words: ''From the Fourth Gospel cor
rected by the Synoptics.''
1 did not suppose that the fourth
gospel needed any correcting. lam in
clined to think that John, the author,
regarded it correct in itself, as well as
those that precede it. From the lang
uage above, it is obvious that the four
gospels are comprehended in this chron-
ology. Hence this table ought to agree
exactly with the book that follows.
But this is not the case. The book
makes the ministry of Jesus to have
been four years when the chronology
makes it trife over year and half.
One is too long by about six months;
the other too short by two years. If
we had only the first three gospels, the
time of the ministry of our Lord could
be comprised in year and half but
with the gospel of John, it cannot be
less than three years and half. The
discrepancy here shown, is wholly I'M
accountable; for the chronology covers
the whole ministry of Christ, as much
as the book.
To make the subject as ineligible
and instructive as possible, flor L have
no taste for exposing errors, unless l
can instruct at the same time), I will
begin at the top of this table and pro-
coed downward.
We are told that Augustus Caesar
died Aug. 10, A. D. IA. This is called
the first year of Tiberius. The next
date is Aug. 20, the same year. This
is called the second year of Tiberius,
"who had been ten days on the throne"
How ten days on the throne can be
reckoned as the first year, and the Sec
ond year of Tiberius, is mystery. 1t
is not here explained; nor are we told
why Aug 10, A. DID, is called new
years day.
The next date is Aug. 20, A. D. Of;
and opposite to this are the words,
beginning of the fifteenth year of
Tiberius: John baptizes, duke iii. ~"
But between the two dates given, Aug.
10, A. d. IA, and Aug. 20, A. D. 81, are
only thirteen years and ten days. How
can this make the fifteenth year of
Tiberius, alluded to in Luke iii. |?
Answer. By calling ten days two years.
But there is better way, namely, by
reckoning two years, during which
Tiberius reigned conformity with Au-
gustus.
Again, under date, September, A. d.
81, and opposite John /. %, the author
says, John baptizes in Bethany be-
yond the Jordan Jesus is with him."
This is only month after John began
his ministry, as the author gives the
dates; while the common opinion is,
that John and Jesus began their min
istry six months apart, each at thirty
years of age. After all, the common
opinion may be wrong. We will find
errors enough in this table, without
reckoning this as one.
With the same date Sept. A. D. 27),
and opposite John ii. Is, it is said,
"Jesus drives the brokers out of the
temple, 1.-THE first time)." If we read
this passage, iii. 1877, we will see that
the occasion was that of the passover.
The date is September and no pass
over was ever held in that month. No
Jew ever heard of such thing. Be-
sides, this passover if placed in the
same month with the beginning of
jesus ministry while in the book, the
ministry of John is put down as one
year before this same passover. Page
81. And in the table, the ministry of
Jesus began in the next month after
that of John. The passover was fixed |
to certain date, and could not be held |
at any other time. (See Exod. kill. 1t |
began on the evening of the 14th Nissan,
the first month of their ecclesiastical |
| L.